The Linkdrop: Playboy teams up with Hello Kitty for disturbing new camera

Why has this Japanese cartoon been crossed with an American glamour magazine?
And why is a second Russian news presenter mad as hell? These questions and
more answered in today’s round-up of international viral trends

German optics company Leica has fused the children’s character Hello Kitty with the Playboy Bunny for the logo of a limited edition camera. Sarah Andelman, owner of a French retailer now selling the camera, has defended the winking Hello Kitty with Playboy Bunny ears, saying “opposites attract.”

The device costs €920 and is on sale along with a range of Hello Kitty/Playboy temporary tattoos and phone cases. Andelman adds: “People thought I was crazy, but now everyone agrees they look amazing together.” See for yourself here.

2. Mad as hell, not going to take it any more (pt 2)

Following Russia Today anchor Abby Martin’s claim to camera that the country’s military intervention in Ukraine was “wrong,” Liz Wahl – a US-based host for the Kremlin-funded channel – has quit her job live on air.

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Wahl said she was no longer prepared to work for a station that “whitewashes the actions of Putin,” before signing off with: “I’m proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth.”

3. Pickup artist with a heart

As a Filipino-American woman and a feminist, Sharon Adarlo wasn’t expecting to like "pickup artist" JT – who helps Asian men seduce white American women – when she set out to write a feature on him. But in the article she admits that “this pickup artist might not be evil.” Read the full story, Is This Pickup Artist Actually…Helping People? here.

4. Winner by a nose

Mohammed Khurshid Hussainmay be the fastest nose typist in the world. The 23-year-old Indian is thought to have beaten the Guiness World Record for "Fastest Time To Type Using The Nose" by more than 45 seconds. If you can’t wait for the official confirmation, at least you can watch the video of his attempt below:

5. Beyond the selfie

You can’t open a newspaper without being bombarded with selfie stories nowadays (and Linkdrop admits it has played a role in the development of this worrying trend). It’s got so bad recently that many phone owners have forgotten they can do anything else with their device*. Thankfully, BuzzFeed have put together a helpful video of what else your camera phone can be used for:

*Not supported by scientific data.

6. Reason of the season

And finally, wired.com have a reporton how the season in which we’re born can affect our mental health later in life. “For instance, spring babies are more likely than others to develop schizophrenia later in life, whereas summer babies tend to grow up to be more sensation seeking,” the article claims.